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South Carolina used a 3-run first inning to beat the Campbell Camels in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night before over 7000 fans at Carolina Stadium.
After Jordan Montgomery got out of the top of the first with no damage, despite giving up two base hits, the Gamecocks got on the board in the bottom of the inning. Marcus Mooney and Max Schrock started things off with singles, then Joey Pankake walked to load the bases. Kyle Martin came through with a 2-RBI single, and DC Arendas contributed a one-out sac fly to make it 3-0.
The Camels ended the shutout in the fourth inning, when Seth LaRue went yard.
The Gamecocks did their whole stranding runners thing again a few times, but they finally brought a couple guys home in the eighth, thanks to a 2-RBI single from Mooney, which bumped the score up to 5-1.
Campbell got another run in the ninth inning, when Tanner English tried to make a diving catch on a ball hit by Will Albertson, and instead had the ball ricochet off of his body. Albertson wound up at third, but Joel Seddon got out of danger with no further damage.
Monty was dealing tonight. He sent down bunches of Campbell batters in a row more than once, and his lengthy outing helped preserve the 'pen for the rest of the regional. Montgomery worked eight innings and allowed five hits, two runs, didn't walk any batters, and struck out nine. He earned the win and is now 8-5. Joel Seddon closed out the game for Carolina. He tossed one inning and gave up one hit, no runs, issued one walk, and tallied two Ks.
Camels starter Heath Bowers pitched 5.2 innings and surrendered nine hits, three runs, walked one batter, and struck one out. He took the loss and drops to 10-4. Bobby Thorson and Ryan Thompson also took the mound for Campbell tonight.
Mooney and Schrock led the Gamecocks with three hits each, while Matt Nadolski had two to pace the Camels.
South Carolina improves to 43-16, while Campbell falls to 40-20. The Gamecocks have now won 28 postseason games in a row at Carolina Stadium, and will meet Maryland in tomorrow's winner's bracket game, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The Camels and Old Dominion will face off in an elimination game that is set to start at 1 p.m.